Self cleaning, sorting, or sifting machine



April 22, 1930. v RYDER 1,755,336

I SELF CLEANING, SOR'IING, OR SIFTING MACHINE F iled Feb. 8, 1928 sSheets-Sheet 1 woewkw End/(R2715 F ag April 22, 1930. RYDER 1,755,336

' v SELF CLEANING, SORTING, OR SIF'TING EACHINE Filed Feb. 8 1928' sShets-Sheej; 2

April 22, 1930. I F. P. RYDER I 1,755,336

SELF CLEANING, SORTING, OR SIFTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented A r. 22,1930

: -UNIT D [stars FRANK r. RYDER, or NI AGARA ALLS, NEW YORK SELF. CEANING, SOR'IING, on 'sIF'rINe MACHINE Application. filed February8,1928. Serial No. 252,819. 1 V

My'invention relates to self cleaning, sorting or siftingmachinesadapted to sort out a mass of objectsdifl'ering in size orshapeand of such character that they have a tendency to wedge into'and clogthe apertures to which they are presented to be sorted or sifted. Aparticular objectof my inventionis to provide mechanism which willoperate continuously to separate loose green string beans from amixtureof such loose beans and stalks suchas is discharged from thestri'ppingrolls i hing, which will'not injure tender beansand i will notbecome clogged by beans of a size too large to pass through the sortingapertures. A further object of my invention is to provide screeningmechanismwhich will successfully assort any mass of objects,

' whether string beans or other articles, of

different sizes and shapes, by presenting them to a'series of selfcleaning apertures of suitable predetermined sizes. j With the objectsabove indicated and other I objects hereinafter explained in view'myinvention consists in the'construction and combination of elementshereinafter described and claimed. 1

Referring to the drawings: y Figure 1 is an end view partly broken awayof a sorting and sifting machine embodying my invention. s r 1 j IFigure 2 is a side view, partly broken v away, of the same. 7 i.

Figure 3 is a detail view of thefringgear at the front end of themachine.

atthe rear end of the'machine. s

'Figure'5 is a detail cross sectional view of a portion ofthe sortingorsifting rollers.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view ofthe rear rollers, and .7 I V I Figure 7isa view similar to Figure 6 showing a modified form of rollers. l

r In the drawings 1 indicates a; rotary sort Figure 4'is a detail viewof the ring gear,

end portions of two of' the sorting or sifting ingor siftingldrumadapted to receive within itv a continuous supply of string beans orother obj ects to be sorted, together wlth'more or less leaves, stalksor other material from which the string beans or other desiredarvoFFIcsf ticles are to be separated. This rotary drum is provided withend;rings 2 and 3, seem Figures 1, 2, and 3 and these rings have theirbearings on supporting wheels 4 ofwhich there are two for each endringcarried by suitable shafts supported in bearings in the machineframe 5.

End rings 2 and 3 carry respectively 6X7 ternally toothed ring gears 6and 7 the teeth of which are respectively in mesh with the teeth ofdriving pinions 8 and 9 which are which power may be'supplied romanyconfast on drive shaft 10 carryin pulley 11to venient source; Endring2 is provided near its outer periphery with openings 12formingbearings for the front ends of parallel shafts 14 carrying helical orscrew elements 13. End ring 3 is provided with inwardly projecting arms12 having spaces 12 between adjacent projecting arms, see Figure 3, soas to permit leaves, stems and string beans too large to pass. throughthe apertures between adjacent screw elements 13 to pass 7 out from thedischarge end of the drum.

The end rings 2Vand- 3 are so held by suitable timing of the drivingpinions that the hear- I ings fortheehds of each of shafts 14 will i bein line so that the several shafts 14 will,

be in line with the axis of the drum; -The bearings 12 are so spacedapart that the peripheries of the threads of the helical or screwelements 13 carried by adjacent shafts 14 will be 'approximatelyincontact. 'Each screwv carrying shaft 14' is provided at one I,

end outside the end ring 2 or 3, with a, gear'15' and the gears 15 ofall of theshafts 14 are in mesh withthe teeth of an internally toothedstationary ring 16 secured to frame members 17. By suitable adjustmentof gears 15 and stationary ring 16, the rotating offshafts 14 is soti'medthat the peripheries of the threads 'of the screw members '13 ofadjacent shafts 14 will be approximately contact as they rotate. Thespaces between the threads of the screw elements of adjacent shafts 14thus by the rotation of the drum, brought to or near the lowest point intheir revolution about the axis of the drum.

The size and shape of the apertures formed between the screw elements ofadjacent shafts 14 is determined by the size and shape of the helicalgroove between the threads of the screw elements. In Figure Sthe groovesare shown semicircular so that the aperture formed is round. In Figure 7the groove is, in cross section, of greater length than depth. so as tofacilitate the passage from the discharge end of the drum of leaves,stems and ,string beans which do not readily pass through the aperturesbetween adjacent screw elements 13. The shape of the groove and theresulting aperture formed as above described may be varied tosuit theshape of the objects to be assorted. j

In operation the rotary drum is rotated in such direction that by theirengagement with the teeth of stationary internally toothed gear 16shafts 14: will cause these shafts to rotate in the direction necessaryto feed the mass of objects to be sorted, by contact with the threads ofthe screw elements 13, toward the delivery end of the drum, that is,towards end ring 3. In order to facilitate delivery ofobjects whichcannot, because of size or shape, pass through the apertures formedbetween the screw elements of ad acent shafts 14, ring 3 is cut awaybetween the bearings 12 of adjacent shafts 14, as shown in Figure 4;, soas to present no obstruction to the passage of whatever is carried to.the delivery end by the screw elements.

The parallel shafts which carry the screw elements 13 being carried onend rings 2 and 3 and the string beans being fed through feed chute 19to'the interior of the drum formed by the shafts and the end rings eachpair of shafts with their screw elements will be carried around in acircular path so as to be alternately below and above the mass of stringbeans. .Vhen below the mass, string.

beans not too large for the apertures will pass through and drop fromthe drum. When the pair of parallel shafts is above the mass, beans toolarge to "pass through the apertures, the ends of which may have enteredthe apertures will drop by gravity back into the mass. Each pair ofscrew elements will thus automatically clean its apertures as, by therotation of its supporting rings it is revolved about'the mass of stringbeans.

The rotation of the drum 1 tumbles the mass of string beans or otherobjects to be the gears 15'of the several to facilitatethe delivery ofartic es integralfwithshaft but maybe sepz assorted, supplied asstatedthrough feed chute 19 at the inlet end of the machine, as itpasses from the inlet end of the drum to its delivery end 20 and byreason of this'tumbling and the feeding towards the delivery end by theaction of the threads of the screw elements, every one of the stringbeans is practically certain at some point between the inlet end anddelivery end of the drum to be presented end on to an aperture so that,if not too large, itwill pass through it and will fall through chuteQlinto receiving box 28.

' 'By reason of the fact that the shafts 14 are all rotated in the samedirection the contacting' points of adj acent screw elements move in:opposite directions as indicated by arrows in Figure 5 so that whileonescrew element willrtend' to pullthestring bean which has entered theaperture in a direction to move it through the aperture, the other screwelement will, on the other side of the aperture, tend to push the beanbackward out ofthe aperture. By reason of this opposition of the twoscrew elements the tendency to force the bean throughan aperture toosmall to permit itto pass without crushing which might result if the twoelements, each constituting half the wall of-the aperture, rotated inthe same direction is avoided.

reason ofthis-oppositi-on of the moving surfaces of the pa1r of screwelements there is nothing to hold a string bean in the aperture of thesescrew elements will carry it along towards the delivery end andultimately dis charge it through one of the openings between thebearings in the rear end ring 3. In order will not .pass' through theapertures the threads of the screw elements are cutaway as shown at 29in Figures 6 and 7. x

The screw elements 13 are preferably made constructed and secured on theshafts.

In order to aid in tumbling the mass of string beans or other'objects tobe assorted and to cause the beans to be presented. end on to theapertures,'Imay provide in line with the axis of the drum a shaft'22carrying vanes 30 and alsocarrying at one end agear 27. By means of asprocket 23 on driving shaft 10 sprocketchain 24 iscaused to drivesprocket 25 which carries with it gear 26 in mesh with gear 27, themovement of rotation thus given to the vanesBObeing 'infthe samedirectionwith' the rotation of the druinl and preferably at slightlyhigher speed. The vanes 30 are preferably corrugated, see '31,? igure 72; Spas to form grooves extending radially which I 'atcly outward sothat as the beans carried upward by the rotation of the drum falluponthese vanes the groovesformed by, these 1corrugations will tendtocause the beans to be'pointed radially outwardso that their ends 'willenter the apertures between adjacent screw elements as the beans slideoff the vanes. The slightly higher speed of rotation 'ofthe vanesobviates'a'ny tendency of injury by the vanes to any beans which mayhave'entered an aperture. v

V Having'thus described my invention, what I claim is 7 1. Means forsorting or sifting objects hav-I ing greater length than thicknesscomprising a series of parallel shafts carrying screw elements soarranged that the peripheries of the threads of the screw elements ofadjacent shafts are approximately in contact and the spaces betweentheirthreads on such two screw elements form an aperture for passage ofone of theob ects to be sorted or sifted, means for r'otatingsaidparallel shafts and means for causing said objects to be presentedendwise to said apertures. I

2. Means for sorting orsirting objects having greater length thanthickness comprising a series of parallel shafts carrying screw ele-'ments so arranged that theperipheries of the threads of the screwelements of adjacent shafts are approximately incontact and the spacesbetween their threads. on such two screw elements form an aperture forpassage of one of the objects to be sorted or sifted, means forrotatingsaid parallel shafts and -means for causingsaid objects to be pre sentedendwise to said apertures comprising a rotary vane having radiallyextending corrugations. c

3. Means for sorting or sifting objects having greater length thanthickness comprising a series of parallel shafts arranged to form ahollow cylinder and carrying screw elements so arranged that j theperipheries of the threads of the screw elements of adjacent shafts areapproximately in contact and the spaces between the threads on such twoscrew elements form an aperture for passage of one of the objects to besorted or sifted, and

means for rotating said cylinder, and means within said cylinder forcausing said objects to be presented endwise to said apertures.

4. Means for sorting or sifting ob ects com- 7 prising a front and rearend r1ng,-a series of parallel shafts having bearings in said rings andforming with said rings a hollow drum,

7 said parallel shafts carrying screw elements soarranged that theperipheries, of the threads of the screw elements of adjacent shaftsareapproximately incontact andjthe spaces between their threads on suchtwo'screw elements form an aperture for passage of oneof the objects'to besorted orsifted,

means for rotating the rings, means for rotating the parallel shafts;and means 'within the hollow drumso formed fortumbling and straighteningthe objects'to bepso'rted' or "sifted.

i 5. Meansfor sorting or sifting object's com- "prising a" front andrear end ring', 'a series of parallel shafts'having bearings insaidrings and forming with said rings a hollow drum said parallelshaftscarrying screw ele- V '"ments. s'o 'arran'gedthatthe peripheriesof the threads flof [the "screw elements of adjacentshafts reapproximately in contact 'and'the "spaces{ ibetween their threads onsuch two screw elements-form 'an'aperture-for passage of "one-of theobjectsto besorted or sifted,

meansfor rotating'the rings, means for ro- 'tating the parallel shafts,and meansjwithin the hollow drum so formedfor tumbling and straighteningthefobjects to be sorted or sifted comprising: a shaft carrying vanesextending towardsithe parallel shafts.

6i'Means -for sorting or sifting objects comprising a front and rear endring, a series of parallel shafts having bearings in'said rings andforming with said rings a hollow drum said parallel shafts carryingscrew elements so arranged that the peripheriesof v the threads ofthescrewelements of adjacent shafts are approximately in contact and'thespaces between their threads on such two screw elements form anaperturefor passage of; one ofthe objects to beisorted or sifted, meansforrotating'the rings, means for rotatgated to form radiallyextenddrum,said parallel shafts carrying screw elements soc arranged thattheperipheries of the 'threads'of the screw' elements; of adjacent shaftsareapproxi mately in contact andthe spaces between their threads on suchtwo screw elements form an aperture for passage of oneof the objects .tobe sorted or sifted, means for rotating the parallel shafts all in 'thesame direction-and in a direction to cause the threads ofthescrewelements to feed the objects within the drum towards the rear 4V end and means-within'the drum for tumbling and'straightening theobjects to besorted or sifted.

8. Means] for sorting or sifting objects comprising a frontvand rear endring, a series of parallel shafts having bearings in said rings andforming with said rings a hollow drum,

said parallel shafts carrying screw elements so arranged that theperipheries of the threads of the'screw elements of adjacent.

shafts are approximately in contact and the spaces between their threadson, such two elements form an aperture for passage of one of the objectsto be sorted'or sifted, means for rotating the parallel shafts all inthe signature.

same direction and in a direction to cause the threads of the screwelements to feed the 7 objects within the drum towards the rear end,

the rearend ring being cut away adjacent bearings to providefreepassagefor objects moved rearward by the sereweleme'nts.

9. Means for sorting or sifting objects comprising a front and rear endring, a'series of parallel shafts having-bearings in sa d rings andforming with said rings a hollow. drum,

said parallel shafts carrying screw elements so arranged that theperipheries of the threads of the screw elements of adjacent shafts areapproximately 'in contact and the spaces between their threads on suchtwo elements form an aperture for passage of one 1 of the objects to besorted or sifted, means for rotating the parallel shafts all in thesamedirection and in a direction to cause the threads of the screw elementsto feed the objects within the drum towards there'ar end, means withinthe drum for tumbling and straightening the objects to be sorted orsifted and means for rotating the drum.

10. Means for sorting or sifting objects comprising a front'and rear endring, aseries of parallel shafts having hearings in said rings andforming with said rings a hollow drum, said parallel shafts carrryingscrew elements so arranged that the peripheries of the threads of thescrew elements of adjacent shafts are approximately in contact and thespaces between their threads on such two elements form an aperture forpassage of one of the objects to be sorted or sifted, means forrotating-the parallel shafts all in the same direction and in adirection to cause the threads of the screw elements to feed the objectswithin the drum towards the rear end, means within the drum for tumblingand straightening the objects to be sorted or sifted comprising a shaftconcentric with the drum and carry ing vanes having radially extendinggrooves formed therein, means for rotating the drum, and means forrotating the shaft carrying the games at a higher speed than that of therum.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affiX my FRANK P, RYDER.

